12-point draft declaration for coconut sector

Kochi, May 11 (UNI) The International Coconut Summit concluded today, with a 12-point draft declaration for the global rejuvenation and promotion of the coconut sector.

The declaration includes efforts to promote coconut-based tree farming for productive and protective benefits, intensive integrated farming for multiple benefits, organise massive replanting programme, popularise coconut-based health foods and beverages, and rejuvenate neglected coconut gardens for productivity improvement.

The declaration also stressed the importance of efficient product utilisation, research for evolving short stature coconut varieties, appropriate technologies for value addition in coir, maximum utilisation of husk output for processing, husk-based industries and organic agriculture.

The promotion of intergrated farming, involving compatible combinations of woody species and arable crops with coconut trees would help to create multiple sources of food, income and employment from one unit, it said.

As a sizeable percentage of palm population was either senile or unproductive, optimum production can be achieved only through replantation, it added.

To sustain the productivity of the palm trees, the declaration stressed the importance of oragnic agriculture without causing degradation of the ecological base of framing.

Coconut was a veritable source of health food and beverages and these products should be promoted in a big way to give the much-needed thrust to the coconut sector.

UNI